HomeMy WebLinkAboutPW Continued Hearing re Resolution SW Fee Schedules Department of Public Works
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Jefferson County
Board of Commissioners
Agenda Request
To: Board of Commissioners
Mark McCauley, County Administrator
From: Monte Reinders, Public Works Director/County Engineer
Agenda Date: July 3, 2023
Subject: Solid Waste Fee Schedule Resolution
Statement of Issue: The current fee schedule for solid waste services became effective
January 1, 2014 [Ord. 6-13 § 1 (Exh. A)] as part of Jefferson County Code, Appendix FEE
SCHEDULES, III. Public Works Department - Solid Waste Division. The attached Resolution
would set new fees for the Solid Waste program.
Analysis/Strategic Goals/Pro's £t Con's:
Fees for solid waste services have not been adjusted since 2019 and revenue is not keeping
pace with rising operational costs. A 2.5% annual cost escalator is proposed for solid waste
fees to maintain a sufficient fund balance and to partially offset inflation. In addition, a $20
minimum fee has been recommended by staff in order to discourage small self-haul loads that
have created long lines and site capacity issues. This minimum fee is in line with the western
Washington regional average minimum fee.
Fiscal Impact/Cost Benefit Analysis:
Financial analysis and feedback on proposed fee revisions from the Solid Waste Advisory
Committee has been shared with the Board of County Commissioners at three workshops and
is covered in detail in the issue paper provided in these earlier workshops and which is
attached again.
Recommendation:
Public Works recommends adoption of the attached Resolution to adjust the Solid Waste Fee
schedule as proposed by Public Works.
Department Contact: Al Cairns X213
Reviewed By:
o42� Z3
Mark McCaule unty Administrator D, to
STATE OF WASHINGTON
County of Jefferson
A Resolution Adopting a Fee Schedule for the
Department of Public Works, Solid Waste RESOLUTION NO.
Division
WHEREAS, Jefferson County is a political subdivision of the state of Washington as
provided by Title 36 RC W and the Washington State Constitution Article 11, and may impose fees
to recoup the costs of providing services to the public; and,
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners may impose fees charged by the
Department of Public Works, Solid Waste Division ("Solid Waste Division") to implement the
code and statutory duties; and,
WHEREAS, JCC 3.80.020 authorizes the Solid Waste Division to request adoption of its
fee schedule by resolution; and,
WHEREAS, the Jefferson County Moderate Risk Waste Facility is no longer in operation;
and
WHEREAS, solid waste per ton fees have not been increased since 2019; and
WHEREAS, solid waste transaction minimum fees have not been increased since 2014;
and
WHEREAS, yard debris minimum transaction fees have not increased since 2014; and
WHEREAS, solid waste enterprise fund balances have been drawn down in order to
maintain the per ton fee since 2019; and
WHEREAS, solid waste enterprise fund balances are now reduced to minimum levels
consistent with prudent fiscal management; and
WHEREAS, transaction wait times for both solid waste and yard debris customers
continue to increase as service demand grows and site constraints at the transfer station limit
options for increasing capacity; and
WHEREAS, Solid Waste Division staff has completed an analysis of solid waste
operations, fund balances, projected costs and fees; and
WHEREAS, Solid Waste Division staff presented the findings of that analysis to the Board
of County Commissioners at a briefing that was duly -noticed and open to the public on April 17,
2023; and
WHEREAS, Solid Waste Division and City of Port Townsend staff briefed Port Townsend
City Council on recommended fee revisions on May 1, 2023 and that meeting was duly -noticed
and open to the public; and
I
WHEREAS, the City of Port Townsend has requested that the fee for yard debris
transactions be adopted under Port Townsend Code; and
WHEREAS, Solid Waste Division staff presented the analysis of solid waste operations,
fund balances, projected costs and fees to the Solid Waste Advisory Committee at a scheduled
meeting on May 25, 2023 and that meeting was duly -noticed and open to the public; and
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners considered a resolution revising solid
waste fees and an ordinance with recommended revisions to chapter 8.10 of the Jefferson County
Code related to solid waste fee policy and repealing Appendix Fee Schedules Section IIl, at a
briefing on June 5, 2023 that was duly -noticed and open to the public; and
WHEREAS, the Solid Waste Advisory Committee members conducted a poll of a quorum
of members on each of the Public Works -recommended revisions to the solid waste fee schedule
and other elements of a draft resolution at a special meeting on June 8, 2023 and said meeting was
duly -noticed and open to the public; and
WHEREAS, Solid Waste Division staff presented the results of the poll conducted by the
Solid Waste Committee on June 8, 2023 to the Board of County Commissioners at a briefing on
June 12, 2023 that was duly -noticed and open to the public; and
WHEREAS, public notice of a public hearing on the matter of solid waste fee increases
was published in the paper of record in the June 14, 2023 and June 21, 2023 editions; and
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners considered recommendations from
Solid Waste Division staff on revisions to Jefferson County Code, Appendix Fee Schedules
Section III, at a public hearing on June 26, 2023 that was duly -noticed and open to the public; and
WHEREAS, the proposed changes to the Jefferson County Code and in this resolution
implement new fee schedules for solid waste collected and managed at the Jefferson County
Transfer Station, and the Quilcene Drop Box Site.
NOW, THERFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF JEFFERSON COUNTY:
Section 1. The 2023 Department of Public Works, Solid Waste Division Fee Schedule attached
in the Appendix is hereby adopted.
Section 7. This Resolution shall take effect sixty (60) days after adoption by the Board of County
Commissioners.
(SIGNATURES FOLLOW ON THE NEXT PAGE)
N
APPROVED and ADOPTED this day of 2023.
JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS
Greg Brotherton, Chair
Kate Dean, Member
Heidi Eisenhour, Member
SEAL:
ATTEST:
Carolyn Gallaway Date
Clerk of the Board
Approved as to form only:
Philip C. Hunsucker Date
Chief Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney
APPENDIX
2023 FEE SCHEDULE FOR DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, SOLID WASTE
DIVISION
Section 1. Fee indexing.
The solid waste disposal fees established by this resolution, with the exception of the
environmental fee (Section 4 No. (3)) shall be adjusted on the first business day of 2025 and
annually thereafter by a percentage increase of two and one-half percent. Annual adjustments shall
be made until solid waste fund balances have met the benchmarks below. The percentage increase
of two and one-half percent is calculated to maintain minimum specified reserved balances in the
solid waste funds, measured by the following benchmarks:
(1) A projected year-end reserved capital fund balance of 25 percent of current capital replacement
value in equipment and buildings, excluding any GO bond funds, and
(2) A projected year end reserved operations fund balance of 25 percent of the projected annual
total solid waste operation expenditures.
An increase over the annual percentage rate fee increase of two and one-half percent that is
necessary for the fund reserved balances to meet the stated benchmarks shall be subject to review,
approval and adoption by resolution of the Board of County Commissioners.
Copies of the fee schedule shall be available to the public on the department of public works'
website, at the public works office, and on file at the board of county commissioners' office. The
fee schedule is available by mail or electronic mail to any member of the public upon request. The
adjusted fee schedule will show the prior year's fees and the new fees.
Section 2. Charges.
The Washington State solid waste collection tax shall be added to the adjusted base fees where
applicable and charges shall be rounded to the nearest whole dollar when scale software allows for
this function.
Section 3. Scale Transit Fee
A minimum fee of $20.00 shall be charged for each roundtrip transit of the scales at the transfer
station.
Section 4. Solid waste disposal — Transfer station commercial and noncommercial rates.
The Washington State solid waste collection tax, where applicable, will be added to fees as shown
in this Fee Schedule. The scale transit fee (Section 3) applies to solid waste load weights up to two
hundred and forty (240) pounds. The per ton fee applies to solid waste load weights above two
hundred and forty (240) pounds. The minimum weight may be adjusted upward at the discretion
of the Director of Public Works to approximate correct per ton charges.
2014 Base (pre-tax fee)
2023 Base Fee
2023 Fee with tax
(pre-tax)
(rounded)
(1)
Solid waste disposal rate
S39.00/te-n
$161.20
$167.00/ton
(2)
Asbestos disposal rate
Ne"eeepted
Not accepted
Not accepted
(3)
Refrigerators
S 1 zo r ton 4 20.00
$161.20/ton +
$167.00/ton + $20.00
exwironmental fee
$20.00
environmental fee
(4)
Minimum charge (scale transit
$9,65
$19.30
$20.00
fee)
(5)
Non -disposal weight charge
$BOA
$20.00
$20.00
In the event the weight scales are inoperative, the rates for the solid waste disposal drop box site
listed in Section 4 shall apply to lose waste and other items; commercial compacted waste shall be
charged based on average load weights for each route (determined for the immediately preceding
calendar month), and by mutual agreement with the Washington State Utilities and Transportation
Commission -licensed hauler.
Section 5. Solid waste disposal drop box site (Quilcene).
The Washington State solid waste collection tax, where applicable, shall be added to the adjusted
base fees as shown below.
2014 Base Fee
2023 Base Fee
2023 Fee with tax
(pre-tax)
(pre-tax)
(rounded)
(1) Minimum fee (up to Two
$52-79
$14.48
$15.00
32-gallon containers)
(2) Loose garbage:
(a) Load up to one cubic
$_ 049
$34.75
$36.00
yard
(b) Each additional '/z
$15.44
$17.37
$18.00
cubic yard
(3)
Automobile tires (each)
$6.76
$7.00
(4)
Truck tires (each)
$65
$7.72
$8.00
(5) Heavy equipment tires $15.44 $17.37 $18.00
(each)
(6) Large items not fitting in Q'�44 $17.37 $18.00
compactor (each)
Z'
(7)
(8)
2014 Base Fee 2023 Base Fee 2023 Fee with tax
(pre-tax) (pre-tax) (rounded)
White goods (each) $1.4 4. $17.37 $18.00
Refrigerators (each) $28.96 $32.82 $34.00
Solid Waste Fee Schedule
Issue Paper
April, 2023
Statement of Issue
The Jefferson County Solid Waste Enterprise Fund is self -funded by the fees charged for
municipal solid waste. A small portion of operating costs (less than 1%) are paid for with grant
funds from the Department of Ecology.
Operational costs for salaries and benefits, equipment purchase and maintenance, and contracted
services like solid waste transport and disposal have all increased by at least 3% per annum since
the last adjustment to solid waste fees in 2019. Fees need to be adjusted to meet these cost
increases and to maintain prudent fund balances in order to make Capital improvements and to
make emergency repairs or replace critical equipment.
Solid waste handling facilities use minimum fees to manage self -haul customer demand by
encouraging fewer, heavier loads or curbside service by subscription. The current minimum fee
at the Transfer Station has not been adjusted since 2014.
The fee schedule at the Quilcene Rural Drop Box is based on volume rather than weight because
the facility lacks scales. The fee schedule is set to make the facility operation cost -neutral or
positive. Revenue has not met operational costs for the past 3 years.
The fee schedule for yard debris disposal has not been adjusted since adoption in 2014 and the
minimum charge is too low to discourage frequent, low weight visits which cause longer wait
times for other customers.
Background
Benchmarks
The current fee schedule became effective January 1, 2014 [Ord. 6-13 § 1 (Exh. A)] as part of
Jefferson County Code, Appendix FEE SCHEDULES, III. Public Works Department — Solid
Waste Division, and attached for reference.
Under III-012 Fee Indexing, three benchmarks are used to guide fund balances:
(1) A year end reserved capital fund balance of 12% of current capital replacement value in
equipment and buildings
(2) A year end reserved operations fund balance of 15% of annual solid waste expenditures
(3) An increase in annual waste tons received of no less than 1 % with 2013 as the base year
A report on solid waste facility asset values was completed in November 2022 and is attached for
reference. Current facility replacement costs are estimated at a low of $6,910,949 and a high of
$8,167,485. Using the high replacement cost estimate and the current solid waste budget, Table
Solid Waste Fee Schedule
Issue Paper
April, 2023
1 shows that the above benchmark for reserved capital fund is not being met while it is for
reserved operations fund.
Table 1
Current Ordinance Benchmarks
Capital Fund
Facility Replacement Cost: $ 8,167,485
Projected Capital Fund Balance end of 2023: $ 915,839
12% of Facility Replacment Cost: $ 980,098
Difference: $ (64,259)
Reserved Operations Fund
Projected Solid Waste Expenditures: $ 4,217,993
Projected Reserved Fund Balance End of 2023: $ 1,398,348
15% of Reserve Fund Balance: $ 632,699
Difference: $ 765,649
A benchmark of 25% for reserve balances is more prudent considering the need for facility
replacement, the large outlay for emergency replacement of critical machinery, the current
inflationary period, and the program's vulnerability to large market corrections.
Table 2 shows that should the benchmarks be adjusted upward to 25% of facility replacement
costs and one quarter of annual expenditures, the fund balance would fall far below the
benchmark for capital replacement and would be only marginally sufficient to meet the
benchmark for annual operating expenditures.
Table 2
Modified Benchmarks: 25% Capital and O&M
Capital Fund
Facility Replacement Cost: $ 8,167,485
Projected Capital Fund Balance end of 2023: $ 915,839
25% of Facility Replacment Cost: $ 2,041,871
Difference: $ (1,126,032)
Reserved Operations Fund
Projected Solid Waste Expenditures: $ 4,217,993
Projected Reserved Fund Balance End of 2023: $ 1,398,348
25% of Projected Expenditures: $ 1,054,498
Difference: $ 343,850
The third benchmark concerning annual tonnages serves as a sort of caveat for the first two. It
sets the basis for fee adjustments regardless of fund balances should tonnages (99.06% of
revenue) begin to soften and provides the County with a means to react to market downturns, as
has been experienced in the past.
2
Solid Waste Fee Schedule
Issue Paper
April, 2023
Table 3 shows that the average increase
in tonnages of 3.4% since 2013 meets the third
benchmark. It should be noted however that
there are years of near -zero or negative growth
in the mix and these variations in revenue have
been addressed by either spending down the
operating fund balance or with a slight increase
to the tipping fee or both. This strategy allows
us to make incremental adjustments to the fees
in service to our customers.
Operating reserves have been spent down since
2019 in order to maintain the current fees, from
a beginning balance of $2.2M in 2022 to an
estimated $1.2M at end of 2023. This has only
been possible with an increase in tonnages
(revenue). Additional revenues are now
necessary to maintain benchmark reserves.
Table 3
Transfer Station Annual Tonnage 2013-2023
Year
Tonnage % Increase
2013
17,673.15
2014
17,662.24 -0.1%
2015
18,814.26
6.5%
2016
20,413.86
8.5%
2017
20,454.07
0.2%
2018
20,960.11
2.5%
2019
21,66234
3.4%
2020
21,587.13
-0.3%
2021
23,443.41
&6%
2022
23,816.81
1.6%
Average
Increase
3.4%
The Solid Waste Fund is vulnerable to major market corrections as seen in Tables 4 and 5. In
this "stress test', the 2023 projected end of year fund balances and expenditures are applied to
the historic decrease in revenue starting in 2006 which was a bellwether to the market correction
caused by bank failures in 2008.
These tables show that if fund balances were set at the recommended 25% of annual operating
expenses and facility replacement value they would be inadequate to meet the benchmark in the
third year of a market downturn and capital funds would be far below benchmark immediately.
This demonstrates the importance of maintaining adequate reserves to weather major market
downturns and the need to rebuild those balances now.
Table 4
Historic Market correction Applied to Reserved Operations Fund Prajectivns
Year
Revenue
Increase/
Decrease (%)
2023 End of
Year Fund
Balance
Expenditures
15% Reserve
Over/Under
Benchmark
25% Reserve
Over/Under
Benchmark
2006
$
1,398,348
$
4,217,993
$
632,699
$
765,649
$
1,054,498
$
343, R.50
2007
-4%
$
1,342,414
$
4,323,443
$
648,516
$
693,898
$
1,080,861
$
261,553
2008
-1%
$
1,328,990
$
4,431,529
$
664,729
$
664,261
$
1,107,882
$
221,108
2009
-9%
$
1,209,381
$
4,542,317
$
681,348
$
528,033
$
1,135, 579
$
(73, 802)
2010
1%
$
1,330,319
$
4,655,875
$
698,381
$
631,938
$
1,163, 969
$
(166, 350)
2011
-6%
$
1,250,500
$
4,772,272
$
715,841
$
534,659
$
1,193, 068
$
(57, 432)
2012
0•0
$
1,250,500
$
4,891,579
$
733,737
$
516,763
$
1,222,895
$
(27,605)
2013
2%
$
1,275,510
$
5,013,868
$
752,080
$
523,430
$
1,253,467
$
(22,043)
2014
00/0
$
1,275,510
$
5,139, 215
$
770,882
$
504,628
$
1,284,804
$
9,294
2015
6%
$
1,198, 979
$
5,267,695
$
790,154
$
408,825
$
1,316,924
$
117,945
2016
8%
$
1,294,898
$
5,399,388
$
809,908
$
484,989
$
1,349,847
$
54,949
3
Solid Waste Fee Schedule
Issue Paper
April, 2023
Table 5
Historic Market Correction Applied to Capital Fund
Year
% Revenue
Increase/
Decrease
2023 End of
Year Fund
Balance
2023
Replacement
Cost
12% Reserve
Over/Under
Benchmark
25% Reserve
Over/Under
Benchmark
2006
$
915,839
$
8,167,485
$
980,098
$
64,259
$
2,041, 871
$ (1,126,032)
2007
-4%
$
859,905
$
8,371,672
$
1,004,601
$
(144,696)
$
2,092,918
$ (1,233,013)
2008
-1%
$
946,481
$
8,580,964
$
1,029,716
$
(183,235)
$
2,145,241
$(1,298,760)
2009
-9%
$
726,872
$
8,795,488
$
1,055,459
$
(328, 587)
$
2,198, 872
$ (1,472, 000)
2010
1%
$
738,966
$
9,015, 375
$
1,081,845
$
(342, 879)
$
2,253,844
$ (1,514,878)
2011
-6%
$
659,147
$
9,240,760
$
1,108,891
$
(449,745)
$
2,310,190
$(1,651,043)
2012
0°/a
$
657,204
$
9,471,779
$
1,136,613
$
(479,409)
$
2,367,945
$ (1,710,740)
2013
2%
$
682,214
$
9,708,573
$
1,165,029
$
(482,815)
$
2,427,143
$ (1,744,929)
2014
0'0
$
683,009
$
9,951,287
$
1,194,154
$
(511,146)
$
2,487, 822
$ (1,804,813)
2015
6%
$
759,539
$
10,200,070
$
1,224,008
$
(464,469)
$
2,550,017
$ (1,790,478)
2016
8%
$
855,458
$
10,455,071
$
1,254,609
$
(399,151)..
$
2,613,768
$ (1,758,310)
Minimum Fee
The minimum transaction fee of $10 was set in 2014 and is no longer effective at incentivizing
less frequent and heavier loads or curbside service for self -haul customers.
Table 6 compares the 2017- 2021 number of self -haul customers and total tonnages above and
below the minimum fee with 45% of the customer mix bringing only 13% of tonnages (revenue).
This large imbalance strains the transfer station operation by increasing customer wait times
while providing less program revenue.
By comparison, Kitsap County staff have shared that minimum fee customers at the Olympic
View transfer station make up less than 10% of the customer mix and that they hope to further
reduce the number of minimum charge customers with an increase of the fee to $41.00 that
became effective January 1, 2023. We have observed an increase in Kitsap County customers
using the Jefferson County transfer station since the minimum fee increase in January at Kitsap
County facilities.
Table 6
5 Yr Totals
Trans Tons
Minimum Fee Customers 145,655 5,671.75
Above Minimum Fee Customers
Totals
179,446 39,234.95
325,101 44,907
Percentage of Minimum Fee customers 45% 13%
Percentage of Cash Self Haul Above Minimum Fee 55% 87%
n
Solid Waste Fee Schedule
Issue Paper
April, 2023
Table 7 shows the fees charged at regional facilities for comparison with Jefferson County's
fees. These Counties have historically been used to compare Jefferson County's level of service.
King County and Seattle facilities have been used for level of service comparison to show that
Jefferson County's solid waste program performs as well as urban area programs.
Table 7
Municipal Solid Waste
Transfer Station
Minumum/Trip Fee
Min. Fee Weight
Per Ton Fee
Seattle
$
33.00
420
$ 180.80
King County (effective 1/1/23)
$
30.25
320
$ 165.61
Kitsap County (effective 1/1/23)
$
41.00
660
$ 118.00
Mason County
$
17.89
340
$ 110.27
Snohomish County
$
20.00
360
$ 105.00
Clallam County (Port Angeles)
$
10.00
100
$ 193.98
Jefferson County
$
10.00
120
$ 162.93
Average including Jefferson $ 23.16 331.43 $ 148.08
Average w/out Jefferson $ 25.36 366.67 $ 145.61
Refrigerators
Jefferson County charges an additional "environmental fee" to cover the additional disposal costs
for refrigerated appliances. The additional fee has not covered disposal costs and the program
loss in 2021 was estimated at $21,017. Staff was recently successful in encouraging a local
vendor to service these units which avoids shipping costs to Seattle. A more efficient material
handling strategy will reduce labor costs which is expected to make this program element cost -
neutral.
Nondisposal Weight Charges
The transfer station charges $5.66 for nondisposal weight measurements and has done so for so
long that no record can found of when the fee was implemented. Two private sector scales in
Jefferson County charge $10.00 and $15.00 per weight receipt. The more competetive fee at the
transfer station conflicts with the goal of the Jefferson County Solid Waste Management Plan
(SWMP) to encourage private sector services and customer demand for this service increases
wait times for municipal solid waste customers.
Yard Debris
Yard debris is used as feedstock for the City of Port Townsend (City) Biosolid Composting
Facility which is co -located at the transfer station through an Interlocal Agreement. County staff
processes yard debris transactions at the transfer station scale house and a portion of the fee is
used to cover County administrative functions. The current fee for yard debris was set in 2014
with a $5.00 minimum for up to 200 lbs. and a per ton rate of $48 above 200 lbs.
E
Solid Waste Fee Schedule
Issue Paper
April, 2023
In 2022, yard debris customers made up 18% of total transactions. On the largest customer count
day ever on November 15, 2022, yard debris customers made up 44% of the total transactions
with some yard debris customers delivering three or more minimum weight loads that day.
The fees for yard debris disposal were first set in 2014 by ordinance as part of Jefferson County
Code. City staff have recommended that it would be more appropriate for this fee to be adopted
as part of City code.
Quilcene Rural Drop Box
The last large revision to the fee schedule for disposal at the Quilcene Rural Drop Box was in
2014 with annual increases of 2.5% until 2019 with the goal of making the operation cost -
neutral. Table 8 shows deficit spending from the operating reserves fund over the past three
years.
Table 8
Quilcene Drop Box 3 Year P&L
Year
2020
2021
2022
Operational Costs
$ 79,004
$ 80,281 $
87,705
Revenue less 3.6%Tax
$ 66,850
$ 74,677 $
72,600
Profit/Loss
$ (12,154)
$ (5,604) $
(15,105)
Limited capital improvements to the facility planned for in 2023 will create more efficient
material handling but will not offset losses completely. 96% of all transactions in 2022 were for
the 32-gallon can charge of $6.79. As shown in Table 9, if the minimum fee was set at $15.00
for up to two 32-gallon cans, revenues would nearly keep pace with 2022 operational costs.
Table 9
2022 Quilcene Charges
Type Count Fee Revenue
32 Gallon 5,964 $ 6.79 $ 69,967.00
2023 Quilcene Modified Fees
Type Count* Fee Revenue
32 Gallon 5,368 $ 15.00 $ 80,514.00
* Assumes 10% decrease in customer count
Like many drop box sites in rural Washington, the Quilcene facility does not have scales and
charges for loose garbage by the cubic yard. The attached visual estimator is used by facility
attendants to calculate the charge for loose garbage. The operation would benefit from fewer
variations of truck bed loads and clearer fee calculations to make charges consistent. Several
modifications to material handling equipment are being considered presently which would
improve consistency and ease of volume estimating.
G
Solid Waste Fee Schedule
Issue Paper
April, 2023
Moderate Risk Waste Small Quantity Generator Fee
By agreement between the County and Port of Port Townsend (Port), the Moderate Risk Waste
Facility has been returned to Port ownership and Public Works has substituted fixed facility
operations with remote collection events for both Small Quantity Generator (business) and
residential moderate risk waste collection. Under this new service delivery model, Small
Quantity Generator customers pay the vendor directly and, as such, the current fee schedule for
these customers is no longer applicable.
Recommendations
Several revisions to solid waste handling strategies have been made in 2022 with more planned
in 2023 in order to gain efficiencies and reduce operating costs. These cost -savings alone will
not meet anticipated increases to operating costs. Additionally, the current fund balance
benchmarks are seen as inadequate to moderate fee increases in the event of a protracted period
of high inflation or a large economic downturn.
Public Works makes the following recommendations to fee schedule revisions to be
implemented following pending updates to scale software and no less than 45 days after widely
distributed public notice:
Transfer Station Fee Schedule
• Adjust fund balance benchmarks to 25% of current capital replacement value and
projected annual expenditures
• Adjust per ton fee for municipal solid waste by 2.5% annually until fund balances meet
benchmarks
• Adjust minimum fee for municipal solid waste from $10.00 to $20.00 and the minimum
fee weight from 120 lbs. to 240 lbs.
• Adjust nondisposal fee from $5.66 to $20.00
• Upon adoption by the City, begin charging a yard debris minimal fee of $20.00 for up to
800 lbs. and retain the $48.00 per ton fee for loads above 800 lbs. It should be noted that
there is a slight imprecision of less than one cent within the recommended yard debris fee
revision between minimum fee and per ton rates owing to the transfer station scales
measuring weight in 10 lb. increments. Rounding to the whole penny would provide
simple communication to the public and ease of transactions.
Quilcene Rural Drop Box Fee Schedule
• Establish a minimum fee of $15.00 for up to two 32-gallon cans
• Replace loose garbage visual estimator with the below table:
Load Description
Full Size Truck
Compact Truck
Up to Rail Height
$ 63.35
$ 54.30
Above Rail Height
$ 90.50
$ 63.35
Above Cab
$ 126.70
$ 90.50
Solid Waste Fee Schedule
Issue Paper
April, 2023